Residents get opportunity to grill Councillors on a range of local issues
Parking, recycling, pavements, crime, whatever your concerns they can be put to Hounslow's senior councillors.
Leaders Question Time will see Leader of the Council Cllr Peter Thompson, Deputy Leader Cllr Mark Bowen and Lead member for housing Cllr Phil Andrews put in the hot seat and r esidents will be able to grill them on any subject they see fit.
Cllr Peter Carey, chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee, said, “The scrutiny committee are used to holding the council to account and we want to encourage residents to join us and do the same.
“Successful councils spend time and effort at communicating with those they represent. This has to be a two-way process so any decisions we make that affect local people are informed by what they tell us.
“Councillors are also accountable to you, and we want to give you the chance to ask the most senior figures about the work they are doing in their name.
"I urge anyone who wants to come along to air their views and listen to what we have to say in response to get in touch. It would be great to see as many people as possible in the audience.”
Cllr Thompson said, "Too often people feel that the council is too distant and too impersonal, and that we don’t have any interest in what they have to say. But we are committed to improving the dialogue between ourselves as an organisation, and the people who live here.
“By inviting people to come and ask us directly what they’re concerned about I hope we can explain face to face what we are doing, and I hope we can take away a better idea of what local people want us to do.”
Panellists will not know the questions beforehand, and if questions are not answered on the night, an answer will be sent within 10 days.
To make sure there are as broad a range of topics as possible, and questions aren’t duplicated, anyone who wants to take part is being asked to register at www.hounslow.gov.uk/questiontime or by contacting scrutiny on 020 8583 2462.
Anyone who wants to attend, but doesn’t want to ask a question should also register to make sure there is sufficient space
November 6, 2008